Strengthening Religious Moderation Through Learning The Yellow Book at Salafiyah Dayah in Aceh

Abstract

This study examines how religious moderation is strengthened through yellow book studies at Salafiyah dayahs in Aceh, contributing to Indonesia's national diversity. Using qualitative methods at two dayahs (Mahyal Ulum Al-Aziziyah and Mudi Mesra), findings reveal no explicit religious moderation curriculum. Instead, moderation values are embedded in yellow book recitations, integrated by teungku leaders into topics like faith, worship, morals, transactions, and patriotism. Classical texts such as Syarah Murqy al-Ubudiyah (Muhammad Nawawy al-Jawy) teach ethics toward Allah, fellow humans, teachers, and parents, fostering goodness and mutual respect. Similarly, Taisiru al-Akhl?q (Hafidh Hasan al-Mas'udy) covers friendship morals, honesty, self-care, charisma (muru'ah), wisdom, patience, generosity, humility, and magnanimity. Teungku contextualize these for modern application, emphasizing respect across differences. Students report broad, in-depth Islamic learning aligned with dayah missions. Supporting factors include Aswaja tawassuth principles, multi-ethnic communal life, and egalitarian discipline. Inhibitors: absent specific moderation materials and limited contemporary fiqh exposure. Solutions: add comparative madhhab studies and modern jurisprudence. Dayah yellow book traditions thus implicitly cultivate moderation, protecting against radicalism while promoting social harmony in pluralistic Aceh.